Tag Archives: chimonanthus praecox

When it’s close to 70 degrees on February 18 it seems like there is very little in the world worth complaining about. Even the traffic on New York Avenue seems worth it once you’re finally at the National Arboretum walking among these beauties:

(Prunus mume and Edgeworthia in the Chinese/Japanese Pavilion Gardens)

Even the often dour blooms of hellebore knew enough to perk up and tilt their faces toward the sun:

(I know, I know, many hellebores are bred that way, let me just do my personification thing, will you?)

I liked the stark contrast between the black mondo grass and the old stalks of ornamental grass (Northern Sea Oats, I think):

Cherry blossoms! (I think it’s another Prunus mume, so technically apricot but I’m in a t-shirt in February so who gives a toss!)

Terrible photo of one of my favorite plants in the whole arboretum: Chimonanthus praecox:

This specimen is perched on a steep slope above the Anacostia River, where the winter sun warms its buttery yellow blooms, which emit THE most delicious fragrance in the floral world (except maybe Vibunum carlesii???) a sort of warm vanilla spice that definitely makes you forget it’s winter.

And last but not least my beloved Camellias. It always surprises me seeing such perfect, extravagant blooms on such awkward, lanky plants. Kinda like seeing a beautiful young girl with knock-knees and pigeon toes…all the more charming for their imperfections.